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What's Your Mantra?

Not that long ago, if you were to ask me what my “mantra” was, I would have thought that you were curious about my meditation practice.

More recently, however, I've heard the term “mantra” used much more in a business context, as in that “guiding principle” which inspires you to do whatever special things you do. In the past I might have called it a "motto," or a "creative strategy," but today: it's a mantra.

My suggestion: find a creative life mantra that will remind you to stay creative. Charlie and Maria Girsch have "what if, what else, why not" as theirs. Walt Disney's was "dare, dream, do." I've adopted the Girsch's as mine for now.

This all got me to thinking, "What's my mantra?" As I reflected on this question, I came to realize that, yes, I do have a mantra, and yes, I've been acting on it for the past thirty or more years. My mantra is:

“Look for the Second Right Answer.”

I find that this strategy informs a lot of what I do.

When I'm looking for information, it tells me to go beyond the right answers that have worked in the past and to dig for others.

When I'm trying to be creative, it playfully advises me to put my ideas in unusual contexts to give them new meanings.

When I'm evaluating concepts, it implores me not to get stuck in the negative and to not fall in love with one particular approach.

And, when I'm implementing ideas, it reminds me that if one way doesn't work, a different one just might and to act accordingly.

So, all in all, it seems to be a good working mantra (for me, at least). I think I'll keep it for a while longer (of course, I could always use a "second right mantra").

Here's my question for you: What's your mantra? How does it inform your thinking and your actions? I'd love to hear what's worked for you!

My mANNtra is borrowed straight from Faulkner, "Kill your darlings." As in...as soon as I start falling a little too much in love with an idea, a process, a sweet little bit of writing, even...I immmediately aim to choke it. The "darlings" are usually born of a flash of what I think is brilliance, but that doesn't hold up in the light of day. In my mind, the best ideas/processes/writings evolve out of longer-term development and thought; the instant little "darlings" quickly lose their lustre.

Truth be told, sometimes those ideas resurrect...but they are little less darling at the point that they do, and a little more real.

Jersey Guy: A thread on mantras has to have some Grateful Dead in it. But, of course! Thanks for remembering.

Mike: Thanks for the inspiration on this one!

Ms. mANNtra: Good words to live by. I have a somewhat similar one: "Don't fall in love with ideas." And it has a somewhat similar philosophy. BTW: what time of the day are you best able to execute your darlings: morning or evening?

Lovin this post...great timing as my current piece over at "The Fix" centers on my biz mantra...it's not so much a creative mantra as it is regarding pulling great work to me (which I then get to be creative with in my solutions).

It's based on this principle: "May all my leads be inbound".See, if I call a prospect we're focused on the "who" as in...who the heck are you? But when a client calls me they've already determined the "who" and we're therefore focused on "what" I can do for them.

Think of my mantra like this: When all rivers flow to you, you're producing a constant stream of opportunities. But with selling you're swimming upstream (and at a disadvantage). Instead of focusing on prospects or how many customers you can find...focus on programs that encourage people to find you, or your product.

On that note, may all rivers flow to you...and me.

P.S.: the creative marketing you're doing is no doubt creating a stream of biz opps (and creative fame) to you. Well deserved, bravo.

I think I left my mantra in a comment on one of your other posts - "Question everything, but don't forget to listen to the answers".

It's a sentence that slipped out of me a few years ago, when I was teaching hypnotherapy - it was the first morning of the course, and the other 2 trainers had stood up and given some wise advice to the students, then it was my turn and it seemed like the obvious thing to say.

To learn hypnosis (or anything else, properly) you have to be willing to (a) question your own and others' preconceptions about just about anything, and (b) be VERY responsive to the feedback you get from others/the world at large.

I think I was always pretty good at (a), but it took me quite a few mistakes before I started to realise the importance of (b).

I've always found; FAIL, FAIL AGAIN, FAIL BETTER works for me. As I believe that the best thing a manager of people can do is create an atmosphere where failure is embraced and encouraged, not the failure brought on by laziness and non-caring, but the failure brought on by a genuine desire to try something new and push beyond the norm.

I also use, SOME PEOPLE DON'T LIKE CHANGE, CHANGE DOESN'T MUCH CARE, as a reminder that change is the only constant in our life, so we'd better accept and embrace it, because it's going nowhere, so stop crazing security and routine

To be honest with you... I was on the very same track as the one you describe on your introduction. Not many people talk about "Mantra" around here. But I also saw it around and began to think about it as well.

Mantra 1 : "YOU GET WHAT YOU GIVE"

First a precision about the word "get". This Mantra is not about actually "getting" anything besides the joy something positive has been achieved. Important to mention that.

This said, I experienced it on a personal level. Keep sending (honestly) positive actions/thoughts to people who were really negative with me. Actually this can change everything. Helps reconsider what a relationship is based on. Believe me it works!

Then on a professional level, it's also fully operational. Try to do things as well as you can, and most of all: respect people.

I do have another one, though (hey... who said only one should be considered!). This one helps keeping contact with the magic of childhood. Wouldn't want to let that go. I like to "believe" the impossible can (still) be reached. Put some energy in your dreams and maybe you'll make them happen.

Hah im just kidding,
Well frankly i like "WHAT IF, WHAT ELSE, WHY NOT" that Wagner gave me, but copying other's "Mahayana cantillate"(which means mantra actually) don't really shows creative isn't it? So here I guess MY man..try..tra is - Do in Rome as myself do, since i need determine to fight myself as a warrior, maybe this will be what i really should obey heeh.

My mantra hangs up in my "sanctuary" so I see it the first thing when I walk into the room: DREAM CREATE IMAGINE

Along with that comes the personal challenge I ask myself constantly (this I keep in my personal journal as opposed to the mantra that I hang out publicly): WHAT'S THE CONNECTION? Life is all about making connections, from Phil Gerbyshak's connecting people, to your charge to connect ideas and concepts. I connect individuals and organizations with their destined accomplishments. Connections are all around us; it's up to us to discover and deliver.

First Roger, thanks for doing this! Your stuff cannot help but to expand our thinking.

For most of my life I've been stressed about getting "there." And at the half century mark I have no idea where "there" is, and although it still doesn't flow from my lips like a cool mountain stream, I hope I never find it.

Interesting piece. Thought provoking. I suppose that I have a few mantras but the one that seems to resonate most strongly is simply "why?" As a designer I tend to think of myself as a change agent (which of course sets myself up for all sorts of challenges) so I am always questioning, always asking why. I might expand on it to be "why, why not, have fun".

This is a quote attributed to Isaac Asimov:
"The most exciting phrase to hear in science, the one that heralds new discoveries, is not 'Eureka!', but 'That's funny...'"

"That's funny..." always comes with discomfort. Once your thinking connects the unconnected, after the unorganized parts become a comprehensible whole, when you learn--the initial discomfort turns into true bliss and satisfaction.